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<DIV>The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, June
24, (Proper 7, ECUSA; Proper 12, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the
Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Church of England
(Common Worship), and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from
the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise,
the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this
Sunday.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>OLD TESTAMENT: 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4 - 11, 19 - 23) 32 - 49
(RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1Sam 17:1 (NRSV) Now the Philis'tines gathered their armies for battle;
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>4 And there came out from the camp of the Philis'tines a champion named
Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of
bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat
was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He had greaves of bronze on his legs and
a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was
like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron;
and his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of
Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philis'tine,
and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come
down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your
servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our
servants and serve us." 10 And the Philis'tine said, "Today I defy the ranks of
Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel
heard these words of the Philis'tine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of
E'lah, fighting with the Philis'tines. 20 David rose early in the morning, left
the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded
him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line,
shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philis'tines drew up for battle, army
against army. 22 David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage,
ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. 23 As he talked with them,
the champion, the Philis'tine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks
of the Philis'tines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>32 David said to Saul, "Let no one's heart fail because of him; your
servant will go and fight with this Philis'tine." 33 Saul said to David, "You
are not able to go against this Philis'tine to fight with him; for you are just
a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul,
"Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear
came, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it and struck it down,
rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it
by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed both lions
and bears; and this uncircumcised Philis'tine shall be like one of them, since
he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 David said, "The LORD, who saved
me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the
hand of this Philis'tine." So Saul said to David, "Go, and may the LORD be with
you!" </DIV>
<DIV>38 Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head
and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David strapped Saul's sword over the
armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David
said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them." So David
removed them. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth
stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his
sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philis'tine. </DIV>
<DIV>41 The Philis'tine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer
in front of him. 42 When the Philis'tine looked and saw David, he disdained him,
for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 The Philis'tine
said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the
Philis'tine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philis'tine said to David, "Come to
me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals
of the field." 45 But David said to the Philis'tine, "You come to me with sword
and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the
God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This very day the LORD
will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head;
and I will give the dead bodies of the Philis'tine army this very day to the
birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may
know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that
the LORD does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's and he
will give you into our hand." </DIV>
<DIV>48 When the Philis'tine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward
the battle line to meet the Philis'tine. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took
out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philis'tine on his forehead; the stone
sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Job 38: 1 - 11 (alt. for RCL but not Can. BAS)</DIV>
<DIV>Job 38: 1, 8 - 11 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Job 38:1 (NRSV) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
</DIV>
<DIV>2 "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? </DIV>
<DIV>3 Gird up your loins like a man, </DIV>
<DIV>I will question you, and you shall declare to me. </DIV>
<DIV>4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? </DIV>
<DIV>Tell me, if you have understanding. </DIV>
<DIV>5 Who determined its measurements--surely you know! </DIV>
<DIV>Or who stretched the line upon it? </DIV>
<DIV>6 On what were its bases sunk, </DIV>
<DIV>or who laid its cornerstone </DIV>
<DIV>7 when the morning stars sang together </DIV>
<DIV>and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? </DIV>
<DIV>8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors </DIV>
<DIV>when it burst out from the womb?-- </DIV>
<DIV>9 when I made the clouds its garment, </DIV>
<DIV>and thick darkness its swaddling band, </DIV>
<DIV>10 and prescribed bounds for it, </DIV>
<DIV>and set bars and doors, </DIV>
<DIV>11 and said, "Thus far shall you come, and no farther, </DIV>
<DIV>and here shall your proud waves be stopped'? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea, </DIV>
<DIV>or walked in the recesses of the deep? </DIV>
<DIV>17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you, </DIV>
<DIV>or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? </DIV>
<DIV>18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? </DIV>
<DIV>Declare, if you know all this. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1 Samuel 17: 57 - 18: 5, 18:10 - 16 (alt. to 1 Samuel reading
above, for RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1Sam 17:57 (NRSV) On David's return from killing the Philistine, Abner took
him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58
Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the
son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." </DIV>
<DIV>18:1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was
bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took
him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan
made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 Jonathan
stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his
armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 David went out and was
successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And
all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved
within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul
had his spear in his hand; 11 and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, "I will
pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice. </DIV>
<DIV>12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had departed
from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of
a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. 14 David had
success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with him. 15 When Saul saw
that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah
loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>PSALM 9: 9 - 20 (RCL - goes with the Goliath reading)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 9:9 (NRSV) The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, </DIV>
<DIV>a stronghold in times of trouble. </DIV>
<DIV>10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, </DIV>
<DIV>for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. </DIV>
<DIV>11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion. </DIV>
<DIV>Declare his deeds among the peoples. </DIV>
<DIV>12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; </DIV>
<DIV>he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. </DIV>
<DIV>13 Be gracious to me, O LORD. </DIV>
<DIV>See what I suffer from those who hate me; </DIV>
<DIV>you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death, </DIV>
<DIV>14 so that I may recount all your praises, </DIV>
<DIV>and, in the gates of daughter Zion, </DIV>
<DIV>rejoice in your deliverance. </DIV>
<DIV>15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; </DIV>
<DIV>in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught. </DIV>
<DIV>16 The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment; </DIV>
<DIV>the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. [Higgai'on. Se'lah]
</DIV>
<DIV>17 The wicked shall depart to She'ol, </DIV>
<DIV>all the nations that forget God. </DIV>
<DIV>18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, </DIV>
<DIV>nor the hope of the poor perish forever. </DIV>
<DIV>19 Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail; </DIV>
<DIV>let the nations be judged before you. </DIV>
<DIV>20 Put them in fear, O LORD; </DIV>
<DIV>let the nations know that they are only human. [Se'lah] </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 133 (alt. for RCL - goes with the Saul / David
reading)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 133:1 (NRSV) How very good and pleasant it is </DIV>
<DIV>when kindred live together in unity! </DIV>
<DIV>2 It is like the precious oil on the head, </DIV>
<DIV>running down upon the beard, </DIV>
<DIV>on the beard of Aaron, </DIV>
<DIV>running down over the collar of his robes. </DIV>
<DIV>3 It is like the dew of Hermon, </DIV>
<DIV>which falls on the mountains of Zion. </DIV>
<DIV>For there the LORD ordained his blessing, </DIV>
<DIV>life forevermore. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 107: 23 - 26, 28 - 31 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 107: 1 - 3, 23 - 32 (alt. for RCL - goes with Job
reading)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 107:1 (NRSV) O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; </DIV>
<DIV>for his steadfast love endures forever. </DIV>
<DIV>2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, </DIV>
<DIV>those he redeemed from trouble </DIV>
<DIV>3 and gathered in from the lands, </DIV>
<DIV>from the east and from the west, </DIV>
<DIV>from the north and from the south. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>23 Some went down to the sea in ships, </DIV>
<DIV>doing business on the mighty waters; </DIV>
<DIV>24 they saw the deeds of the LORD, </DIV>
<DIV>his wondrous works in the deep. </DIV>
<DIV>25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, </DIV>
<DIV>which lifted up the waves of the sea. </DIV>
<DIV>26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; </DIV>
<DIV>their courage melted away in their calamity; </DIV>
<DIV>27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards, </DIV>
<DIV>and were at their wits' end. </DIV>
<DIV>28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, </DIV>
<DIV>and he brought them out from their distress; </DIV>
<DIV>29 he made the storm be still, </DIV>
<DIV>and the waves of the sea were hushed. </DIV>
<DIV>30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, </DIV>
<DIV>and he brought them to their desired haven. </DIV>
<DIV>31 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, </DIV>
<DIV>for his wonderful works to humankind. </DIV>
<DIV>32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, </DIV>
<DIV>and praise him in the assembly of the elders. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW TESTAMENT: 2 Corinthians 6: 1 - 13 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2 Cor 6:1 (NRSV) As we work together with him, we urge you also not to
accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, </DIV>
<DIV>"At an acceptable time I have listened to you, </DIV>
<DIV>and on a day of salvation I have helped you." </DIV>
<DIV>See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3 We are
putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our
ministry, 4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way:
through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings,
imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge,
patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7 truthful speech, and the
power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the
left; 8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as
impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and
see--we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing
everything. </DIV>
<DIV>11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to
you. 12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13 In
return--I speak as to children--open wide your hearts also. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2 Corinthians 5: 14 - 17 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2Cor 5:14 (NRSV) For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are
convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for
all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who
died and was raised for them. </DIV>
<DIV>16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;
even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no
longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>GOSPEL: Mark 4: 35 - 41 (all)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mark 4:35 (NRSV) On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let
us go across to the other side." 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him
with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great
windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already
being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke
him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 39 He
woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the
wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, "Why are you afraid?
Have you still no faith?" 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one
another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Chad
Wohlers<BR>Woodbury, VT
USA<BR>chadwohl@satucket.com<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>